Float valve



July 2, 1935. J. F. GOODWIN 2,007,048

- FLOAT VALVE Filed Feb. 20, 1953 Patented July 2, 1935 FLOAT VALVE John F. Goodwin, Sarnia, Ontario, Canada, assigner t one-fourth to Harold R. Goodwin,

Detroit, Mich.

Application February 20, 1933, Serial No. 657,539

4 Claims.

This inventionrelates to float valves particularly adapted for use in closet flush tanks.

As such valves are ordinarily constructed the valve is closed against the pressure of the water 5 supply by the lifting eifect of the water on the ball float audit is difficult therefore to obtain and maintain accurate closure of the valve at all times and at a predetermined water level.

- My object therefore is to devise a float valve in which the water pressure itself is utilized to open and close the valve, and the float is used merely to control the application of the water pressure, and not to directly close the valve,-

I attain my object by means of; an .arrangemen which may be briefly described as. follows. A closed chamber is provided separated into two compartments by a flexible diaphragm. Into one compartment the water inlet opens and from it extends the water outletformed with a seat engageable by the diaphragm to close the outlet. The second compartment is formed withasmall,

outlet provided with a normally closed valve adapted to be openedby a ball float. A restricted by-pass forms a communication between the two compartments adapted, normally, to equalize the pressurein the two'compartments. Under such conditions the outlet is closed by the diaphragm.

When pressure is vented from the second chamber, the diaphragm lifts and the outlet is opened.

The invention is hereinafter more fully described and is illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which Fig. l is an elevation of my improved valve installed in a tank;

Fig. 2 a vertical section of parts of the same in the closed position;

Fig. 3 a vertical section of the same parts in the open position; and

Fig. 4 a cross section on the line 4-4 in Fig. 2.

In the drawing like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures.

Referring to the drawing, 1 is an ordinary flushing tank provided with ordinary flushing mechanism 2, which is only partly shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing.

3 is the water inlet pipe passing through the bottom of the tank in the usual manner and connected at its upper end with a chamber 4. This chamber t is formed in halves and provided with the flanges 5 whereby the parts may be secured together. between the flanges 5, thus dividing the chamber into two compartments 6 and I. With the lower compartment the inlet pipe 3 communicates. Ex-

A diaphragm 8 has its rim secured tending up through the bottom of the compartment 6 is theloutlet pipe 14, the upper end of which is so positioned that. itmay be closed by the diaphragm 8. This-diaphragm 8 is formed of resillent-flexible material, preferably rubber. The 6 center of the diaphragm preferably has a disk 20 of metal or hard rubber (embedded therein to give the center of the diaphragm sufficient stiffness to enable it to .properly engage and close the. end ofthe outlet pipe l4.

The diaphragm is partly supported. by the plates l0 and II fitted in" rebates formed in the body of the chamber 4. Th'ese plates have central openings therein somewhat larger than the external diameter of the outlet pipe 4. The upper plate 'll is'also preferably dished, as shown, to provideroom-for the lifting of the diaphragm to open the upper end of the outlet pipe H.

The upper side of the diaphragm carries the projections formed on or integrally connected therewith. :This proiection'il nearly but not quite fills the opening in. the upper plate ,H and is formed as a resilient cushion. While this projection may be formed of soft rubber and be solid throughout. a better-cushioning effect is obtained. by makingit hollow, as shown.

A restricted by-pass between the compartments 6 and I is formed by means of the by-pass tube [2, which is formed with a restricted bore. Preferably the bore tapers from the lower end upwards to prevent clogging of the bore by particles of solid material entering with the water and passing through the outlet.

The tube necessarily must extend through openings in the diaphragm and the upper plate ll.

A valve controlled vent I6 is provided leading from the upper compartment 1. The valve may be of any known type tending to close. A valve of the tire type may be employed having the stem 2| positioned below a bent arm I! fulcrumedat l8 on the chamber 4 and carrying a hollow ball or float l9 adjustably connected with its outer end.

The cup 22 secured to the arm serves to direct 45 downwardly any water passing up through the valve controlled outlet.

The operation of the device is substantially as follows: Normally the parts are in the position shown inFig. 2, the arm I! being held raised by 50 the float I9 so that the valve I6 is closed. Owing to the provision of the by-pass l2 pressure in the two compartments 6 and 1 is equal, but as the upper side of the diaphragm exposed to the pressure is greater than the underside exposed to pressure, owing to the presence of the outlet pipe l4, the diaphragm is held firmly in contact with the upper end of the latter and no water flows to the outlet l4. As soon, however, as the venting of the water in the tank permits the ball float l9 to drop low enough the valve l 6 is opened and pressure in the chamber 1 vented. The pressure of the water in the chamber 6 then lifts the dia-. phragm and the water from the inlet flows to the outlet, as indicated in Fig. 3. As soon as the tank fills up sufliciently the ball float I9 is raised and the valve l6 closed. The shock of closure is, however, small, since the pressure on the upper side of the diaphragm is not materially greater than that on the lower side. Further, the closing movement is cushioned by the effect of the projection 9, which permits only of a limited flow from the upper chamber 1 through between the projection and the hole in the upper plate to the upper surface of the diaphragm. The shock of closure is also further cushioned due to the fact that the projection 9 is compressible and the pressure of the water in the upper chamber is thus exerted on the diaphragm through the medium of a shock absorber, thus completely preventing any water hammer.

A valve constructed as above described will be found to be very eifective, since the work to be done by the float or ball I9 is only the controlling of the valve is, which requires the exercise of very little power. I

The device is also very durable, since the parts are subjected to very little wear.

From the above description it will be seen that I have devised a construction which will satisfactorily attain the objects of my invention as set out in the preamble to this specification.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In a valve the combination of a chamber;

a flexible diaphragm dividing the chamber into two compartments, the first provided with a water inlet and with an outlet controlled by the diaphragm; a hollow closed rubber cushion connected with the diaphragm within the second compartment and opposite the outlet; .a restricted by-pass forming a communication between thecompartments; and means controllable by a float valve for venting the second compartment.

2. In a valve the combination of a chamber; a flexible diaphragm dividing the chamber into two compartments, the first provided with a ,water inlet and with an outlet controlled by the diaphragm; means for admitting water from the inlet into the second compartment; and means for venting pressure from the said compartment, the diaphragm being formed of rubber and having a compressible rubber cushion connected therewith opposite the outlet from the first mentioned compartment.

3. In a valve the combination of a chamber; a flexible diaphragm dividing the chamber into two compartments, the first provided with a water inlet and with an outlet controlled by the diaphragm; means for admitting water from the inlet into the second compartment; and means for venting pressure from the said compartment, the diaphragm being formed of rubber formed with a stiffened center, and having a compressible rubber cushion connected therewith opposite the outlet from the first mentioned compartment.

4. In a valve the combination of a chamber formed in two parts; a flexible imperforate diaphragm having its rim clamped between the parts and dividing the chamber into two compartments and having its central portion stiffened; an outlet pipe extending from one compartment and having its inner end positioned below the center of the diaphragm so that it is closable by the latter; a stationary plate secured above the diaphragm limiting its lift and having a circular opening therein of larger diameter than that of the outlet pipe; an upwardly extending resilient and compressible projection at the center of the diaphragm nearly but not quite filling the said circular opening; means for admitting water into the compartment below the diaphragm; means for providing a restricted passage of water between the compartments; and means for venting pressure from the second compartment directly to the outside.

' JOHN F. GOODWIN. 

